Municipal Planning & Land Use By-laws

CBRM's Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw (jurisdiction is all of CBRM except the North End neighbourhood of Sydney)

The Province’s Municipal Government Act gives municipalities the authority to adopt a Municipal Planning Strategy to provide statements of policy to guide their development and management. In 2004 CBRM adopted its first Planning Strategy which included an implementing Land Use Bylaw. The Act describes a Land Use Bylaw as a regulatory document which enables certain policies of the Planning Strategy to be carried out. After a review by the Province’s Department of Municipal Affairs these planning documents came into effect September 17, 2004.

This new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw replaced the 15 municipal planning strategies and land use bylaws adopted by the former municipalities of Cape Breton County prior to the 1995 amalgamation. These former documents were repealed with the adoption of the new CBRM MPS and LUB.

These current versions of the Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy available here also include amendments adopted by Council to date.

Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw - North End Sydney

In addition to the regional Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw noted above, the CBRM Council adopted a Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw for an area in the North End of Sydney on May 16, 2006. The Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw were developed following a year and a half of consultation with residents and landowners of the North End. These documents replace the regional Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw for the area of Sydney affected.

The North End Sydney Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw took effect on September 2, 2006, following a review by the Nova Scotia Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Copies of these documents and related maps are available below for download.

Subdivision Bylaw

Zoning Confirmation

What is a Zoning Confirmation?

Upon receipt of a formal written request, the Development Officer will provide a signed letter certifying the zoning provisions of the Land Use Bylaw in effect for a given parcel of land.

What is the fee for a Zoning Confirmation?

The fee for a Zoning Confirmation is $25.00. Because a Zoning Confirmation is not a licence or permit you are obliged to acquire under legislation of the Province of Nova Scotia, the CBRM is obliged to charge HST. The inclusion of this tax increases the fee to $28.75.

Demographic Information

According to the 2001 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 109,330. This represents a decline of approximately 7.2% from the population recorded during the 1996 census (117,849) including Native Reserves. When Statistics Canada releases more 2001 census data the CBRM web page will provide a more detailed analysis of this latest census.

Below is a table providing historic demographic statistics for the CBRM and the eight former municipalities which comprised Cape Breton County prior to the August 1st, 1995 amalgamation.

YEAR

LSB*

DOM*

NSY*

SYM*

NWD*

GLB*

SYD*

CBM*

CBRM*

1891

2,522

2,466

2,459

2,427

23,274

34,244

1901

4,646

3,191

6,945

9,909

23,489

49,166

1911

2,589

5,418

7,470

16,562

17,723

22,562

73,330

1921

2,390

6,585

8,327

5,615

17,007

22,545

22,698

86,319

1931

2,846

6,139

7,769

7,745

20,706

23,089

23,237

92,503

1941

1,012

3,279

6,836

8,198

9,302

25,147

28,305

28,264

110,703

1951

1,120

3,143

7,354

8,410

10,423

25,586

31,317

32,953

120,306

1961

1,414

2,999

8,657

9,122

10,592

24,186

33,617

39,644

131,507

1971

1,508

2,879

8,604

8,991

9,579

22,440

33,230

40,221

129,075

1981

1,410

2,856

7,820

8,501

8,808

21,466

29,444

44,688

127,035

1991

1,261

2,517

7,260

7,551

7,695

19,501

26,063

45,555

120,098

1996

1,152

2,452

6,797

7,559

7,374

18,659

25,636

48,220

117,849

2001

1,071

2,144*

6,158*

6,982

6,944*

16,984

23,990

45,057*

109,330

2006

971*

2,019*

5,921*

6,689*

6,556*

16,139

22,789*

44,644*

105,928

2011

945

1,955*

5,480*

6,217*

6,032*

15,485

20,940*

44,565*

101,619

* Estimated 2006 and 2011 population by CBRM Planning & Development Department; estimates were required due to changes in dissemination area boundaries implemented in 2001 and 2006 by Statistics Canada

Proposed: Commercial District Improvement Bylaw

The CBRM’s first Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB) were adopted in the summer of 2004, since that time it has been the practise of the Planning and Development Department to undertake a winter review of each document.

The proposed amendment are not meant to change the substance or direction of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law, but rather make these documents easier to read for those who administer and those who must comply with its provisions.

Amending By-laws

Municipal Planning Strategy (I still do not have this from Malcolm yet, so we could leave this off until I do)